The Living Age Volume 18 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1848 Excerpt: ...society, they naturally asserted their superiority over the Malays and Dyaks; who willingly succumbed to the authority of their new masters--especially when, by so doing, they opened to themselves the prospect of riches and power, subordinate, indeed, to those of their chief, but greater than they could ever expect to acquire without his cooperation. No evidence, we believe, exists by which the progress of civilization in the Archipelago can be traced further back than to the disciples of the Koran; who appear to have been the founders of nearly all the states which acquired any celebrity, or enjoyed any durable existence in Borneo, Celebes, or any other of the larger islands. There, no doubt, as everywhere else, Mohammedan civilization has exhibited a gross and unspiritual character; rising to a certain height, and displaying a considerable amount of splendor, but speedily degenerating, because resting on an imperfect ethical basis. Still the Arab adventurers, whatever they may now be, must be admitted, we think, to have been useful in their day, and to have roused the Malays and Diaks from their apathy: --imparting to them a vigorous impulse, though with a direction, generally, perhaps, towards evil, but sometimes also towards good. Even in the present age it is impossible not to admire the success with which a few solitary Arabs have erected for themselves a fabric of power in Borneo and elsewhere. Arriving, penniless and unknown, among savage and ignorant races, they at once inspire them with respect for their persons by their courage and sagacity, teach them to construct houses and plan villages, to cultivate the soil, to lay out gardens and plant fruit trees, and to surround themselves with all the elements of comfort known or requisite in those region..